Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2018 August 29

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August 29

Usage of Blockquotes in the article text and citations

Hello, I'm having a dispute with another editor about usage of blockquotes, both within articles, and in citations (references) sections. I asked for a couple of other editors to offer their opinions, but none have. The full discussion is here: Talk:Rent_control_in_the_United_States#Block_quotes.

I would ideally like to know whether some policy exists across all of Wikipedia, if such exists.

1) Is there some policy (other than WP:UNDUE) which specifies when and where blockquotes can be used in an ARTICLE?

2) Is there some policy (other than WP:UNDUE) which specifies when and where blockquotes can be used in the REFERENCES?

Or even SUGGESTIONS as to how they "should" be used.

Thanks!! --Avatar317 (talk) 00:27, 29 August 2018 (UTC)Avatar317

There’s an MOS section at WP:BLOCKQUOTE. The MOS isn’t policy per se but it is general advice. Beeblebrox (talk) 01:00, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Lord mayor

Please help I added file but unsuccessfully 203.132.68.1 (talk) 03:00, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

You formatted it as an external link, I’ve reformatted it as an image link, but it still needs a caption, you can add one by adding a pipe | inside the double brackets and writing whatever seems approrpiate there. Beeblebrox (talk) 03:13, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Ref six is in red and am unable to fix it. Please assist if able. Thanks 175.33.211.40 (talk) 04:18, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

 Done Year wrong again.

SB in the last couple of days you have been given advice on how to add files easily and correctly, asked not to create multiple sections at this page with the same heading and had it pointed out to you that the year is 2018 not 2108. Please take note of the advice you are given. Eagleash (talk) 04:38, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Citing proof to substantiate criticism of article about a business enterprise

I am interested in adding some statements to an article that are critical of the business enterprise about which the article is written. These statements are factual, but I can only substantiate the statements with copies of exchanged emails, cell phone texts and oral testimony regarding verbal exchanges. How do I cite such proof that substantiates the critical statements I would like to add to the article, and is such proof sufficient to publish my statements pursuant to Wikipedia's editorial policies? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 142.255.78.224 (talk) 03:43, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

• Sorry, but no. We require "reliable sources", by our specific definition: see WP:RS. What you describe is what we call "original research" (WP:OR), and it is not considered suitable in an encyclopedia. You should find another venue to publish this information. -Arch dude (talk) 04:26, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

My article got deleted

Tanu Khan this is my page that was supposed to be deleted in 7 days and admin said as it was bio of living person but some other adm deleted the page when I provided the source — Preceding unsigned comment added by Gillgurbir89 (talk • contribs) 06:33, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

The page has been redirected to Chandra Nandini with the comment that it is too soon to have a separate article on the topic. Dbfirs 07:03, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Lord mayor

Sorry - corrected the quote in ref 6 and it is in red again. please fix and leave in quote if able. Thanks 175.33.211.40 (talk) 06:34, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

It was a doubled, wrong-named and a bit misformatted access-date parameter. Fixed: Special:Diff/857048872. --CiaPan (talk) 06:44, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Don't understand why you keep deleting the definition I am submitting

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darkness_(disambiguation) I keep submitting the name of my car as a Supernatural replica car under the definition of The Darkness. I don't understand why it keeps being deleted. This is a legitimate car. You have the Venator impala listed under that definition so I don't understand the problem. Would appreciate any assist. Thank you. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Redgal65 (talk • contribs) 08:13, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

The explanation is at MOS:DABENTRY. Thank you for pointing out the inappropriate entry which has now been removed from Venator. --David Biddulph (talk) 08:21, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Two talkpages

Kapya John Kaoma was moved to Kapya Kaoma, all well and good, but now now there's two talkpages, Talk:Kapya Kaoma and Talk:Kapya John Kaoma. Can someone fix this, assuming it's something that should be fixed? Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 09:45, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Abelmoschus Esculentus has merged the talk pages. I have fixed a former cut-and-paste move in the opposite direction. PrimeHunter (talk) 10:36, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Thank you both! Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 12:47, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Vertical galleries

Greetz, helpdeskers. Is such a thing possible, think ye? Or even desirable to the MOS, although that's another question I admit. Cheers! —SerialNumber54129 ^{paranoia /cheap sh*t room} 10:53, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

See Template:Multiple image. GMG^talk 5:02 pm, Today (UTC+5.5)

@GreenMeansGo: Many thanks for that, I'll look into that—apologies for overwriting your reply back there. Hope all's well with you! —SerialNumber54129 ^{paranoia /cheap sh*t room} 11:35, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

And you also. Just as a note, this template can be wonky with mobile. So when I use it, I normally check: 1) desktop, 2) mobile version with chrome dev tools, 3) mobile app on mobile, 4) browser view on mobile, just to make sure everything works out alright. GMG^talk 11:44, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Thanks again GreenMeansGo; I eneded up not using, due to only having three images to play with, but it was an interesting experiment all the same, and I'll know for next time. Cheers, —SerialNumber54129 ^{paranoia /cheap sh*t room} 17:34, 30 August 2018 (UTC)

No worries SN. They can be tricky to use in the body of articles. But they're useful when trying to draw a direct comparison between two images, and in cases where a subject is so broad one image won't suffice. See for example how I used them for the lead images on Poverty and Humour. GMG^talk 17:38, 30 August 2018 (UTC)

Question about Wikipedia reuse

29 August 2018 The Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., Dear Sirs/Madam; While searching to write some background about my Ethiopia from the Diaspora for my overdue autobiography book, I came across your detailed background and historical information and data in your website, but it is too much to include it in my autobiography, for the interest of those readers who are not Ethiopians. Hence as your conclusive remark after the detailed Ethiopia’s historical background it reads as follows: Print/export • Create a book • Download as PDF • Printable version This page was last edited on 28 August 2018, at 15:53 (UTC). And, therefore, am asking permission to print it as a book, as it is a total of about 73 pages, of A4 paper, and I wish to get such authorization letter if you please do not mind, mentioning my print as originated from your write-ups and authorization. However, the photo with the captions of Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia Hailemariam Desalegn meeting with former US Deputy Secretary of Defense Ash Carter in Addis Ababa, and Former Foreign Minister of Ethiopia Tedros Adhanom with former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, as well as the Languages and Religions colour signs, refused to be copied while all other photos and sketches did. Thanking you in advance, I hope and pray to get your favourable response at your earliest convenience, please? Sincerely

Belete Worku Yimer [contact details redacted] — Preceding unsigned comment added by 41.205.135.6 (talk) 11:03, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

• We will not answer your query by mail, email, snapchat or whatever, but only on Wikipedia.

For authorization to reuse Wikipedia content, please see WP:COPYRIGHT, in particular the big red box: it is pointless for a formal letter since no single editor nor the Wikimedia Foundation (the legal entity who runs the site) has the authority to write that. Nonetheless, any text on Wikipedia is reusable provided you follow the CC-BY-SA license term, mostly attribution (saying where you took the content from and under which license). For images, you will need to check each image page individually, as some may not be freely reusable. If you click on the Adhanom/Kerry image, for instance, it takes you to File:Secretary_Kerry_and_Ethiopian_Foreign_Minister_Adhanom_Hold_a_News_Conference_in_Addis_Ababa_(3).jpg, where you can see that the licensing allows reuse (in fact, it is released in public domain as a work of US government, so even providing attribution is not mandatory). Tigraan^{Click here to contact me} 11:38, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Apologies Tigraan I misread the question, and thought that they were offering to publish books  :) —SerialNumber54129 ^{paranoia /cheap sh*t room} 17:35, 30 August 2018 (UTC)

Editing my company's page

Hi, I'd like to edit my company's page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bravissimo_(company) - I have declared a COI on my user page. Will these edits be accepted? Amyreds (talk) 11:40, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

You should use the article talk page to propose changes, see the advice at WP:Conflict of interest. --David Biddulph (talk) 11:49, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

I've also added a collection of useful links to your user talk page. shoy (reactions) 12:57, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Query to users of AWB or scripts

Thought I might get a quicker response here than posting to say Wikipedia talk:AutoWikiBrowser. As I don't use scripts or tools like AWB, I was wondering if there is a function in either AWB or another script to modify basic HTML formatting in references e.g. <ref>Author, Name. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]. Wikipedia. Retrieved August 29, 2018.</ref> to Template:Cite web or another template format, to unify an article's citation style per WP:CITEVAR. Thanks. Ss112 12:30, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Ss112, not everyone here at the Help Desk uses AWB or scripts. Though it is a more general audience, so I can see why you would post here.

For AWB, the best place to ask would be at Wikipedia:AutoWikiBrowser/Tasks where the AWB users can tell you if it's possible. Or it might already be done by someone who hasn't gotten to the article that you're concerned with. †dismas†|^(talk) 14:02, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

donation

I want to donate but I will not provide credit card #. How can I send a Check? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ouny (talk • contribs) 15:18, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Ouny An address to mail a check to can be found on this page. 331dot (talk) 15:19, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Content Reversion

Hello!

Our firm, Troutman Sanders LLP, has recently tried to update our Wikipedia content based on new firm data, only to have our revisions converted twice now. The reason provided is that we use too much PR or Marketing speak. We feel we have provided adequate reference through multiple citations and have used concise, factual language. Can someone assist us in allowing our edits?

Thank you so much! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.12.52.1 (talk) 15:52, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

First, any editor representing your firm must review and comply with the conflict of interest policy and the paid editing policy. The latter is mandatory for paid editors/company representatives. As you (or other editor from your firm) have a conflict of interest, you should not edit the article about your firm directly; instead, you should make edit requests on the article talk page detailing what changes you feel should be made. 331dot (talk) 15:59, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

I would add that language like "With a diverse practice mix, workforce and footprint that includes 12 offices spanning the United States, Troutman Sanders has cultivated its reputation for a higher commitment to client care for over 120 years" is pure marketing-speak and will never be accepted. Some of the other stuff may or may not be, but you should not add it directly. 331dot (talk) 16:01, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

I made a few minor edits. If you'd like to see new info added, put an edit request on the talk page. Here are instructions. Template:Request edit. TimTempleton ^{(talk) (cont)} 19:09, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Easy creation of an AfD discussion

I've never created an AfD and when I look at the page on how to do so, the process doesn't look hard but involves a lot of steps. Is there some kind of form or automated process that makes it quicker and easier?Sandals1 (talk) 16:49, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

• Go to Special:Preferences#mw-prefsection-gadgets, and click on the option that activates Twinkle. You'll get a few drop down options in articles, including creating XfDs. Lourdes 16:58, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

help with links

What is that?
Missing or empty |title=
I.G.I.cool (talk) 17:26, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

@I.G.I.cool: It probably means a page used a citation template where a mandatory title parameter was not given. We can say more if you say where you saw it. Always give the name of a page you have an issue with. PrimeHunter (talk) 17:34, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

I watch article Jana Beller, and see that in References. I.G.I.cool (talk) 17:37, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

@I.G.I.cool: There is a "help" link you can click. The first example on Jana Beller has a reference saying {{cite web|url=http://www.viewmanagement.com/models/2687-jana-beller |accessdate=May 23, 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719083918/http://www.viewmanagement.com/models/2687-jana-beller |archivedate=July 19, 2012 }}. The archive link https://web.archive.org/web/20120719083918/http://www.viewmanagement.com/models/2687-jana-beller shows a page with title "Jana Beller" so the solution is to add |title=Jana Beller to the citation code. PrimeHunter (talk) 17:45, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Article history dragged along

I created an article (Upfield (company)) by writing it on a user page and moving it to article space, forgetting that all of the history of that user page would get dragged along. Since I have used that page for editing of lots of article, it could be confusing anyone who happens to look at Upfield (company)'s history. Should I ignore it or request for it to be deleted. The article has been converted to a redirect, so it would be easy to re-do it. Leschnei (talk) 19:11, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

The article was incorrectly redirected to Unilever, and I restored it and did some cleanup, but don't have the ability to remove the extra history. TimTempleton ^{(talk) (cont)} 22:15, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

I have made a history split and moved the old edits back to User:Leschnei/Notes. PrimeHunter (talk) 22:52, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Thank you both. Leschnei (talk) 23:06, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Eric Carr (Boxer)

Greetings,

Inaccurate information has been updated to Eric Carr’s Wikipedia page is there anyway of blocking the page from persons adding inaccurate information?

Kind Regards,

Eric Carr — Preceding unsigned comment added by Mrscarr2u (talk • contribs) 19:13, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

The anonymous IP editor has been warned about the vandalism. If it is repeated , then that editor is likely to be blocked from editing. Dbfirs 20:16, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

(edit conflict)@Mrscarr2u: Some recent vandalism has already been removed and the IP editor warned. If the vandalism to the page continues, you can request page protection at WP:RFPP and the user reported at WP:AIV. The damage to the page would have to be ongoing and the user been appropriately warned. If you have a connection to the subject of the article, please read WP:COI and make any necessary disclosures. Please remember to sign your posts on talk pages by typing four tildes (~~~~). Thank you. Eagleash (talk) 20:20, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

How to create/translate an official wikipedia page from an other language?

To whom it may concern,

I'm writing to enquire about how to create an official wikipedia page for a Hungarian youth association, Fekete Sereg. This association has very good fame in Europe due to works with the EU. I had already created a Hungarian article about it, and I decided to create an other one in English. I tried to translate with the official page, but it didn't work.

Sorry for the disturbing, and thank you for your help in this matter. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Csasza28 (talk • contribs) 21:38, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Also posted at Wikipedia:Teahouse#How_to_create/translate_an_official_wikipedia_page_from_an_other_language? Meters (talk) 21:49, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

And answered there. Meters (talk) 02:04, 30 August 2018 (UTC)

Coming out of retirement in Wikipedia

How do I come out of retirement and become an active editor for Wikipedia? I've searched the help pages and I can't find a relevant answer. — Preceding unsigned comment added by BlueScreen (talk • contribs) 22:02, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

You just start editing again. Editors are volunteers and can edit when they want. I suggest removing {{retired}} from User:BlueScreen if you become active. PrimeHunter (talk) 22:30, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Name Correction Edits

Why is it not constructive to correct a person’s name. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Hr4act (talk • contribs) 22:57, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Pinging Tornado chaser. TeraTIX 23:05, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

Blocked account

Hello everyone How can i restore the block account in Wikipedia? Soulmaz AP (talk) 23:30, 29 August 2018 (UTC)

WP:APPEAL RudolfRed (talk) 00:02, 30 August 2018 (UTC)